Our highly ranked Competition & Public Procurement practice is one of the largest competition practices in Finland. Our full service practice covers e.g. merger control, cartel investigations, legality of so-called horizontal and vertical agreements, abuses of dominance, dawn raids, litigation/damages cases, compliance programs and training, public procurement and state aid.

The lawyers of our practice have been involved in all of the biggest competition cases in Finland – covering the infringement and/or the damages aspects, including e.g. several of the largest cartel cases and the largest ever abuse of dominance case. Furthermore, we have acted as Finnish legal experts in some of the most notable global competition damages cases abroad. Our lawyers have also been involved in many cases which have been the first of their kind: They have, for example, submitted the first-ever leniency application in Finland (obtaining immunity from fines for the client); represented clients in the first-ever oral hearing of the Supreme Administrative Court in a competition case; and been lead counsel in precedent-setting, landmark (and the largest) competition damages cases – the first major cartel damages cases in which court rulings have been rendered.

In close collaboration with our strong M&A & Private Equity practice, we are regularly involved in planning transaction structures and assessing potential competition law issues in a transactional context. We have significant experience in handling both domestic and multijurisdictional merger control procedures.

We also provide continuous public procurement advice for clients and represent them in procurement disputes in courts.

Our lawyers have participated in the government's legislative processes, e.g. in the government's Expert Committee responsible for drafting the Finnish law implementing the EU directive on antitrust damages actions; co-authored the first Finnish book on antitrust damages actions; and been chairman and speakers in the most notable competition law seminars in Finland, and also lecturing abroad. The head of the practice is one of the few members of the Competition Law Expert Group of the Finnish Bar Association.

Our lawyers' backgrounds include e.g. the international law firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton as well as the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission in Brussels; and e.g. further Master's degrees in law at King's College London and at University of Cambridge.

We always focus on understanding the business of our clients and providing the clients with practical advice.

Our practice is constantly highly ranked by all leading ranking organizations. For example, we have been ranked as a Leading Firm in Competition/European Law by Chambers Europe for close to a decade (most recently in 2017); as a leading law firm in EU and competition by The Legal 500 EMEA already for a decade (most recently in 2017, "Tier 1"); and among the world's 100 leading competition law practices by Global Competition Review already for several years (GCR 100, most recently in 2018, "Highly Recommended").

"Broad competition practice advising on cases of major significance in the Finnish market."- Chambers Europe 2017

"Clients praise the team for their 'excellent work, good understanding of customer situations' and say they are 'always ready to help, with an excellent attitude and a fast and flexible service.'"- Chambers Europe 2017

"The team is efficient, responsive, pragmatic and business-oriented."- Chambers Europe 2015

D&I Competition & Public Procurement practice headed by Partner Ilkka Leppihalme is highly recommended in the Global Competition Review GCR 100 18th edition (Finland), a guide to the world's leading competition law and economics practices.

Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Competition 2018

D&I's Partner Ilkka Leppihalme, Head of Competition & Public Procurement, is included in the inaugural edition of Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Competition (2018). According to the publication only the lawyers who obtained the highest number of nominations from peers, corporate counsel and other market sources were considered; and the practitioners listed "are among the very best in the world in the competition field, without exception".

Eight Edition of The Best Lawyers in Finland

The Best Lawyers® has recognized D&I's Partner Ilkka Leppihalme in the Eight Edition of The Best Lawyers in Finland in the field of Competition Law. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Best Lawyers® 8th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Finland

D&I and 13 of its lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 8th edition of The Best Lawyers in Finland for the following listed categories: Environmental Law, Biotechnology Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Equity Law, Corporate Law, Information Technology Law, Media Law, Technology Law, Telecommunications Law, Tax Law, Banking and Finance Law, Arbitration and Mediation, Competition Law, Labor and Employment Law and Litigation.